Hibiscus plant named &#39;evangeline&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Evangeline’, characterized by its glossy dark green leaves; upright, compact and freely branching plant habit; freely flowering habit; and large pink and yellow-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Evangeline.

[0002] The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Plaquemine, La. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new large-flowered Hibiscus cultivars withunique and desirable flower colors.

[0003] The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the Inventor inPlaquemine, La., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with the Hibiscus rosa-sinensiscultivar Gina Marie, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thecultivar Evangeline was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Plaquemine, La.

[0004] Compared to plants of the topaz-flowered female parent, thecultivar Topaz Glory, plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact andmore freely branching.

[0005] Compared to plants of the light pink-flowered male parent, thecultivar Gina Marie, plants of the new Hibiscus are more compact, morefreely branching, and more freely flowering.

[0006] Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Plaquemine, La., has shown that theunique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The cultivar Evangeline has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0008] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Evangeline’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Evangeline’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0009] 1. Glossy dark green leaves.

[0010] 2. Upright, compact and freely branching plant habit that isappropriate for container production.

[0011] 3. Freely flowering habit.

[0012] 4. Large pink and yellow-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0013] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Hibiscus. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Evangeline’that was about 12 months old. The photograph on the second sheetcomprises a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Evangeline’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following observations, measurements and values describeplants grown in Plaquemine, La., with one plant per 12.5-cm container,during the summer under outdoor conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. Plants used for the description were about 9months old. In the description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

[0015] Botanical Classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivarEvangeline.

[0016] Parentage:

[0017]Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar TopazGlory, not patented.

[0018]Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Gina Marie,not patented.

[0019] Propagation:

[0020]Type.—By terminal cuttings.

[0021]Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 30 days at temperatures of22° C. Winter: About 40 days at temperatures of 22° C.

[0022]Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 60 days at temperatures of22° C. Winter: About 70 days at temperatures of 22° C.

[0023]Root description.—Fibrous and well-branched.

[0024] Plant Description:

[0025]Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen; upright andcompact plant habit.

[0026]Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about four lateralbranches develop after removal of terminal apex.

[0027]Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 25 cm.

[0028]Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 37 cm.

[0029]Lateral branch description.—Length: About 17.5 cm. Diameter: About6.5 mm. Texture: Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color:Immature: Green, more green than 147A. Mature: Brownish gray, close to200C with 197A overtones.

[0030] Foliage Description:

[0031]Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.

[0032]Length.—About 9.75 cm.

[0033]Width.—About 7.6 cm.

[0034]Shape.—Ovate.

[0035]Apex.—Acute.

[0036]Base.—Obtuse.

[0037]Margin.—Crenate.

[0038]Texture.—Glabrous; rugose.

[0039]Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: More green than 147A; veryglossy. Young foliage, lower surface: Close to 146A. Mature foliage,upper surface: Much darker than 147A; glossy. Mature foliage, lowersurface: Close to 147A.

[0040]Petiole.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Texture:Very fine pubescence on upper surface; lower surface, glabrous. Color:Dark greenish brown; close to 200A with undertones of 147A.

[0041] Flower Description:

[0042]Natural flowering season.—Spring through fall or during periods ofwarm weather.

[0043]Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leafaxils. Very freely flowering with usually about two or three developingflower buds and one or two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers facemostly upright.

[0044]Flower appearance.—Large, rounded single flowers. Flowers are openfor about one to two days before closing. Flowers persistent.

[0045]Flower diameter.—About 18.5 cm.

[0046]Flower depth.—About 8.4 cm.

[0047]Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: Aboutthree to five days depending on temperatures. Length: About 2.5 cm.Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: More green than 147A.

[0048]Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny, rugose. Arrangement: Corollaconsists of five overlapping petals. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:Mostly rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire; undulate and ruffled.Length: About 9.3 cm. Width: About 9.2 cm. Color: Upper surface: Margin,yellow, 10A to 10B, with faint pink, 54A to 54B, overtones; center,pink, 54A to 54B to 54C, veins, white, 155D; base, dark red, 53A, andshiny. Lower surface: Margin, 10B; center, 10D; base, white, 155D.

[0049]Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx.Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Length: About 3.3 cm. Width: About1.5 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Upper surface: Close to 146A. Lowersurface: Close to 147A.

[0050]Peduncles.—Length: About 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:Mostly upright to slightly bent. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture:Smooth. Color: Slightly darker than 146A.

[0051]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about55. Anther shape: Crescent. Anther size: About 2 mm by 1 mm. Anthercolor: 12A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 15A. Gynoecium:Pistil number: One. Pistil length: About 7.6 cm. Style length: About 6.1cm. Style diameter, at base: About 8 mm. Style color: Base, 53A;mid-section, close to 49A; apex, 155D. Stigma number: Five. Stigmashape: Rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 15A to 17A.

[0052]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0053] Disease Resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Evangeline’,as illustrated and described.